Upcoming Events
Celebrate Black History Month
Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 12noon
The Origins of Black History Month
Black History Month grew out of “Negro History Week,” which was founded in February 1926 by Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson. Woodson, often called the “father of Black history,” aimed to address the lack of public information about Black accomplishments and their omission from school textbooks.
- Choice of February: Woodson selected the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and Frederick Douglass (Feb. 14), two figures whose contributions to Black liberation were already traditionally celebrated by Black communities.
- Expansion to a Month: The observance spread to many college campuses during the late 1960s, driven by the Civil Rights Movement and a growing awareness of Black identity.
Official Recognition: In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month during the U.S. Bicentennial, urging Americans to honor the “too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans”.
Celebrate Black History Month with Our Friends of Fr. Augustus Tolton
Sunday, Feb. 15 at Noon in Rectory
February is Black History Month. To celebrate, come learn about The Venerable Father Augustus Tolton, the first African American priest in the United States of America. This month, we have a video presentation relating to the life of Fr. Tolton and other African Americans on the path to Sainthood.. All are welcome on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 12noon in the Rectory, Room 201. No advance registration is required.
